Having returned from exhibiting Double First’s Engage student management software at the annual BSME conference held in Bahrain, the team from Double First has been reflecting on the key messages delivered at the event.

Piers du Pré, Group Chairman at Double First, asked BSME Chairperson, Ed Goodwin, about the success of the annual conference. “There were two main messages being given at the conference this year. Firstly, that BSME is continuing to drive towards being an organisation which impacts positively on the day-to-day educational lives of around 65,000 students and 5,000 teachers.”

Continuing, Mr Goodwin said, “Secondly, over-prescription and dogma can take us away from the heart and soul of education. Our conference speakers took us on a journey which enabled us to renew and affirm our belief that education addresses the whole child, rather than just their academic outcomes.”
BSME 2010 Conference is held in Bahrain.

The BSME 2010 conference was held at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa, in Bahrain and was attended by school Heads and Principals from across the Middle East. Conference speakers included Professor Ralph Tabberer, Chief of Schools at GEMS Education, and Dr David George, World Council of Gifted and Talented Children executive panel member.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Economic Development Board delivered the opening address. The Crown Prince highlighted the importance of British schools and British education to the economic development of Bahrain and other Middle East countries.

The Crown Prince also referred to several important and dynamic initiatives that he and the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain had put in place and which have local and, in the case of The Education Project, global significance.

His Royal Highness also praised St Christopher’s School as a ‘model of a mini-united nations’, stating that others could learn from this school’s example.

“Cutting Edge of Educational Thinking”

Piers du Pré asked Mr Goodwin why the BSME conference was such an important event in the Middle East. “For Heads, it’s to keep at the cutting edge of educational thinking, to share practice and experiences. For Associate Members, it’s to bring their products and services to the forefront of Heads and Principals’ minds, leading to increased take-up and sales,” explained Mr Goodwin.

As well as being the BSME Chairperson, Ed Goodwin is the Principal at St Christopher’s School, Bahrain. St Christopher’s School chose Engage by Double First as its school-wide Student Management Information System in 2009.